Originally posted by S a m u r a i
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I was buzzing that fight-night (probably more than I should have been, given that it was always going to be that kind of a fight) - love both guys, but I was leaning toward Joe just because it was his first time on a big US stage and I wanted him to really impress...so I was disappointed (but not disillusioned).
In Joe's defence, people like to say they both looked ****. I think Joe looked a lot more **** throughout. Hopkins made him look dreadful and was effective himself in spells, Joe never really got going.
On the bright side, it's still a nice looking "W" on his record against an elite guy, and he didn't get beat down, just made to look a bit daft and outlanded (I'm talking effective shots, people, not cuffing, grazing **** that didn't really land or flurries that don't produce one distinct, clean connect) - but, putting it with the Jones Jr. fight, it's hard to take too much gloss from Joe's US jaunt.
If Calzaghe-Dawson had been makeable after the Roy showcase, that one might have been the fight for JC to prove his legitness once and for all then call it a day on (beating Chad wouldn't silence all critics, but it would have been a verrry nice way to go out).
When you look at it, besides that, there weren't a whole load of really enticing options. Wasn't much point in a Hopkins repeat.
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